King of the Wind

Agba is a young Moroccan stableboy and the novel’s protagonist. He’s described as a “slim brown boy” (94) with “somber black eyes” (115), and he wears a turban and a hooded mantle. From his first appearance in the sultan’s stables, one of the character’s most consistent traits is his tireless work ethic. The selfless stableboy humbly accepts his difficult circumstances with patient endurance, and he makes caring for Sham his “life’s mission” (174). Oftentimes, the impoverished Agba barely has the means to sustain himself, but he always shares what he has with his treasured animals, such as when he, Sham, and Grimalkin are exiled to the Wicken Fen marsh: “Agba would light a peat fire and make barley gruel for all to share” (146). Agba’s gentleness is another important quality because it allows him to gain the trust and friendship of the animals in the story. Henry portrays the character’s speech disability as something that makes it difficult for him to connect with other humans, further underscoring that his most important bonds are with animals and ensuring that his life revolves around his horse: “He and Sham were alike. That was why they understood each other so deeply” (170).